One of the most challenging aspects when it comes to hardscape design is the proper placement as well as the sizing of outdoor patios. A good patio design gives you the opportunity to create a great outdoor living space – an extension of your home – for relaxation and entertainment purposes all-year round.
To know which patio type will best suit your family’s needs, you should first determine how it will be used most of the time and how much space you will work with.
Determining the Patio Type for Your Property
When you are deciding on your patio layout, this requires a little bit of homework. You need to consider carefully how you are planning to use it. If you like entertaining, then you might want to create various large patio areas to accommodate dining areas. If your outdoor living space will be more of a private sanctuary, then you might prefer creating small, cozy destination areas throughout your outdoor area. Do you have young children? You might also consider placing designated play areas for them. The options are actually endless.
Here are some questions you should consider answering:
*How many people will you be entertaining on a regular basis?
*What are your favorite patio finishes? (Stamped concrete, brick, stone or pavers?)
*Do you also have large parties?
*What style, quantity and size of patio furniture will you be using in the yard?
4 Patio Types
#01. Bistro-style patios are awesome for small destination spots, side yards, and corners. Since they are diminutive in size, this type can be a challenge to design. You should pay attention to this type because you want a patio large enough to be functional and small enough to be able to fit the space.
#2. Outdoor living rooms can be complete with all furnishings that you would find in indoor living rooms such as couches, lounge chairs, and coffee tables. You can even add outdoor fire tables for added comfort, warmth, and nighttime ambience.
#03. Outdoor dining rooms, on the other hand, should allow enough space to pull out chairs, but not much walk-around space. When designing this type of patio, the size should be based on your entertaining needs as well as the number of people you plan to host regularly.
#04. Sundeck Patios
If you are planning to include a sundeck with lounge chairs, then you should plan a space which will accommodate a couple of outdoor chairs with coffee or cocktail tables and a 3-foot clear walking space past the foot of the chairs. If you are going to have a swimming pool, then you may want to increase your minimum clearance from 3 to 5 feet to avoid accidental dips in the pool.
Choosing the Best Size for Your Outdoor Furniture Setting
